bowel
Americannoun
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Anatomy.
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Usually bowels. the intestine.
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a part of the intestine.
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bowels,
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the inward or interior parts.
the bowels of the earth.
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Archaic. feelings of pity or compassion.
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verb (used with object)
noun
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an intestine, esp the large intestine in man
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(plural) innards; entrails
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(plural) the deep or innermost part (esp in the phrase the bowels of the earth )
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archaic (plural) the emotions, esp of pity or sympathy
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of bowel
1250–1300; Middle English b ( o ) uel < Old French < Latin botellus little sausage ( bot ( ulus ) sausage + -ellus -elle )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"However, any bowel change that is new or different for you deserves medical attention. An annual wellness visit is a good time to raise these concerns."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
The reports followed growing concerns among customers over the illness, which the CDC said can cause “sometimes explosive bowel movements.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
A midstage trial for the same drug in adults with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and mixed bowel habits will continue to evaluate its efficacy and safety, GSK said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Those infected may be asymptomatic or experience uncomfortable symptoms, including “watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.”
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
“From now on,” he said, his face utterly serious, “I want a full report on all of your bowel movements.”
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
NEW YORK—More than a million fans will visit New York City this month for the World Cup, and many of them will squeeze through the decaying bowels of Pennsylvania Station while they’re here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Soon afterward, he was in the hospital, receiving treatment for a blockage in his bowels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026
Somewhere in the bowels of my music collection hides 1985’s George Clinton-produced “Freaky Styley” and 1987’s “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” on crumbling cassettes.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026
Iona Hall, 30, from Bristol, underwent two operations in 2024 to remove a 10cm cyst on her ovary and separate her bowels and uterus, which had fused together.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2026
We descend into the bowels of Mr. Gideon's lab, and I am once again enthralled by the magical appearance of the place.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
He lightly runs to earth the quaint Red worm and, deftly troweling, He makes it with his boweling Familiarly acquaint.
From Black Beetles in Amber by Bierce, Ambrose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
